Web treating apparatus



1957 F. w. SANBORN ETAL 2,730,373

WEB TREATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. s, i9s5 FIG. a 2

3 Sheets-Sheet 'l lir- He. 22 1 INVENTORS FRANK W. SANBORN Ag ExANDER V. ALEXEFF B 5 ,6? My -A ATTORNEYS Fgb 1195? F. w. SANBORN ETAL 2,780,873

WEB TREATING APPARATUS v I Filed 001;. 3, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L V FIG. 3- 54 INVENTORS FRANK W. SANBORN {,EXANDER V. ALEXEFF ATTORNEYS Feb 12, 1957 FZ'WPSANBORN ETAL 2,730,873

' WEB TREATING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 5, 1955 s Sheets-:Sheet 3 9 FIG. 6

I l I I TO -7" v I INVENTORS FRANK w. SANBORN G' WEXEFF Z? I M ATTORNEYS WEB TREATING APPARATUS Frank W. Sanborn, Westlake, and A lexander V, Alexefi,

Cleveland, Ghio, assignors to Industrial Ovens, Incorporated, Cleveland; flhio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 3, 1955, Serial No. 533,072,

12. Claims. (Cl. 34*159) The present invention relates to apparatus for heattreatment of webs of fabric or sheet-material wherein thelweb is subjected to heated air or other fluid for drying, hot-stretching, baking or other treatment involving the applicationof heat.

We have provided apparatus for heat treatment of web material. wherein the length of web subjected to. heat treatment. maybe varied throughout a considerable range, which may start at zero if desired, while at the same time both sides of the web may be subjected to treatment undersimilar conditions evenwhere such treat-L ment involves application of heat to the web in confronting relation (suchas, for example, by circulation of heating fluids within orthrough the heating st'ation). rather than? depending merely on the maintenance of static heated conditions with-inan.oven.

Apparatus which provides forvariation of the length of web; material subject to heat treatment is advantageous in that sensitiveand highly responsive tempera-. ture control is possible. It also lends itself tothe provision of drop-out means whereby upon overheating'or other emergency conditions all web material can. be quickly removed from heated zones, automatically, if desired. The present invention exploits such; advantages even where heating treatment involves use of heating means which supplies heat to the web in a confrontingrelation so that. the facing. side of the, web and thejre-fverse side of the web receive diverse treatment. Heating means suchas arrays of baking lamps, heating coils, flames or hot-fluid-circulating heating chambers all in-'. volvev the conditions where one side of the web is favored; unless. the heating means is duplicated on eachjside; ofthe web. The general. object of theinvention istoprovide. such duplication in. a way to make it feasible to correspondingly and. simultaneously vary the. length of; web material subjected to heat treatment oneach sideof a given. web.

We attain this general object. of the. invention by providing a roll or equivalent web guide means. which may be translated laterally any. desired. distance into a treat; ing zone in which the outer side of a web carriedbv such roll is exposed to treatment, the roll having ena trained therewith an. inner flow defining means which itself moves to change effective length as the; roll is translated within the treating. Zone, so that theinner side of the web is also. exposed. to the desired. treatment.

The general object of the invention and the means by which this objectis. achieved will be more readily. understood from the following} description of embodiments of the invention, which embodiments are set forth by way. of example. The embodiments which'are specific-ally described generally relate to applications in which. circulating fluid such as air is employed as a heating medium, but it will become clear that inbroader aspects the invention is applicable to applications using'other methods of applying heat, such as heating lamps and hot coils or flames.

In the drawings:

2,780,378 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 1-1 in Figure 2 and illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 isan elevational sectional view taken on line 3.3 in Figure 4 and illustrating another embodimerit of the invention.

Figure 4 is a viewtaken on line 44 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a View taken on line 6-6 in Figure 5.

Shown in Figure 1 is a heating chamber generally indicatedat 10 which comprisesa pair of'ducts 11 and 12 leading from a common input duct 13. The inner wallsl i of theducts 11 and l-lareslotted as at 15 along. their lengths, andthrough these slots heated air is ejected toward; the; surface of a web 16 which is to receive heat treatment. The web 16' passes over an input: guide roll 17. and. an outgoing guide roll 18; between these guide rolls it is carried by. a dancer roll 19. The dancer roll 1 9 is-thussat; the apex ofa single festoon of the web. The dancer roll is carried on pillow blocks 20 which are reciprocable along guideways 21 so that the dancer roll 19 may be adjustably positioned either in the solid line position shown in Figure l or in the phantom position shown-in Figure 1 or at any position therebetween. The pillow blockszilare supportedand adjustediin position; throughthe agency of; a cable 22. which leads to a poweredwinch or other take-up control means (not sh W J- A central chutedetined by, the slotted walls 25 and 26 is. supported at its upper closed end- 27 from the pillow blocks. 2%): by suitable members such as the straps 2 3. The side walls of the heating chamber 10'include wall portions 35'), 31 and 32. Between the wall portions 3 0;. and31 is a gap33; between the wall portions 31 and win r- The side walls 25 and 26.0f the central chute are provided with. slots 35, equivalent to the slots 15 in a manner which will be apparent in the drawing. Provided in. one side wall portion 31 is a port 37 which communicates with anair input duct, 38.

Asthe dancer roll 19 is shifted upwardlybetween the ducts; 1'1 and 12 of the heating chamber 10; it carries With it, in entrained relationship the central duct. As more-and more of the outer web. surface is operatively confronted by the heat applying means, including the ducts 11 and 12' and the slots 15, the inner web surface.

is simultaneously operatively confronted by-more and moreof the inner heating mea-ns comprising the central, duct and the slots 35. The air which is applied to the innerandouter surfaces of the. web. escapes through the openings or gaps 33 or 34 and may be. recaptured for recirculation by additional laterally located ducting. (not shown The lower end of the central duct may be guided by suitable guide straps 39, and the lower ends of the walls 25. and 21 6 of the central chute may be supported in properly spaced relation by cross. members 36.

The side. wall portions 31 extend below the sidev wall portions 30 and 32, as at 31A. Extending transversely through the central chute and between the side wall portions 31A is a'fixed closure wall 23. Accordingly, any position of the centralchute, substantially all air introduced thereinto through the duct 38 is forced to exhaust through the slots 35; An additional transverse wall, 24 may be provided which is carried on the pillow blocks 20 by members 29 and is therefore mounted for nioven en t with the dancer roll 19. Thus, at the lowermost position of the dancer roll, illustrated in phantom view in Figure l, the web 16 will be entirely isolated from incoming air admitted through the duct 38 in addi- 3 tion to being isolated, of course, from air admitted through the ducts 11 and 12.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, a heating chamber 40 and ducts 41, 42, 43 and 48 are provided which are similar generally to the heating chamber 10 and ducts 11, 12, 13 and 18. In this embodiment, however, the central duct comprises a pair of flexible walls 50 and 51, each consisting of a plurality of transversely extending bars 52 spaced from each other by the slots 53 and entrained with each other and with the top end plate 47 of the central chute by cables 54. The top end plate 47 of the chute is supported from the pillow blocks 44 for movement with the dancer roll 49 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The cables 54 pass around sheaves 55, 56, 57 and 58, as do also the central chute elements 52, when the dancer roll 49 is in restricted position. The sheaves 56 and 57 may be notched as shown at 59 in order to accommodate the ribs or flanges on the members 52, in a manner which will be apparent from the drawings. The ends of the cables 54 opposite to the wall 47 are supported on pillow blocks 60 associated with a dancer roll 61. The dancer roll 61 is mounted by suitable means for translation in a path outside the heating chamber 40 between the positions shown in solid line view and in phantom line view in Figure 3. The cables 62 supporting the dancer roll 61 may form common linkages with the cables 63 which support the dancer roll 49 so that these rolls counterbalance each other against web tension, and their translation may be achieved with little power applied, as by a winch (not shown), in any suitable place along the common cable lengths 62 and 63. In this connection, of course, it is to be noted that the Web 46 passes around the guide roll 65, then around the dancer roll 49, then around a guide roll 66 mounted between and coaxially with the sheaves 56, then around a guide roll 67 mounted between and coaxially withthe sheaves 57, then around the dancer roll 61 and finally (so far as the particular illustration) around the guide roll 68. It will thus be apparent that dancer rolls 49 and 61, when they are simultaneously translated, move in opposite senses with respect to web accumulation.

The movement of heating air in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is similar to that in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, and it is not believed necessary to repeat this description. However, it is to be observed that the provision of a flexible central chute affords the advantage of considerable space savings. This is the case whether the heating oven is horizontal, in which case a non-flexible chute occupies considerable floor space, or whether the heating chamber is vertical, in which case the central non-flexible chute necessitates either a deep pit or an extremely high oven structure.

The embodiment shown in Figures and 6 is similar in all respects to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that the chute 38 and port 37 of Figures 1 and 2 are eliminated and a lower guiding and input duct 70 is provided which replaces the duct 38 and also the guideways 39. Also, of course, the lower closure wall 23 of Figure l is eliminated. It will be apparent that the duct 70 guides the central duct, and that incoming air is supplied through the duct 70 upwardly through the length of the central duct. This embodiment is somewhat unwieldy from the structural standpoint but will demonstrate that the teaching of the invention may be embodied in structure which varies widely in detail, even when the use of only one type of heating means is considered. As previously mentioned, the invention is equally applicable to heat treatment applications where the heating means consists of hot coils, flames or similar heat applicators other than the exemplified recirculating hot air system.

Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted to details of the above described embodiments, which are given merely by way of illustration. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with regard to itself back and forth along a given path to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first heat applying means extending along said path in surrounding relationship therewith to operatively confront lesser or greater web lengths along the outer side of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, second heat applying means extending within said festoon and in entrained relationship with said roll to be translated therewith along said path to operatively confront greater or lesser web lengths along the inner sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path.

2. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself along a given path to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first means extending along said path in surrounding relationship therewith and including first heat exhausting means operatively confronting lesser or greater web lengths along the outer sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, second means extensibly extending within said festoon in entrained relationship with said dancer roll for extension therewith along said path, said second means having operative heat exhausting means over a portion of its length along said path from said dancer roll, which portion varies directly with the degree of extension of said second means.

3. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself along a given path to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first means extending along said path in surrounding relationship therewith and including first heat exhausting means operatively confronting lesser or greater web lengths along the outer sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, second means extensibly extending within said festoon in entrained relationship with said dancer roll for extension therewith along said path, said second means having operative heat exhausting means over a portion of its length along said path from said dancer roll, which portion varies directly with the degree of confrontation between the outer sides of said festoon and said first heat exhausting means.

' 4. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself back and forth along a given path to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first heat applying duct means located alongside said path to operatively confront lesser or greater web lengths along the outer sides of said festoonas said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, at least twosecond roll means defining the end of said festoon opposite said apex and guiding said web to and away from said festoon in paths divergent to the direction of said-given path second inner heat applying duct means extending between said at least two second roll means and within said festoon and being in entrained relationship with said dancer roll to be translated therewith along said path and between said at least two second roll means to operatively confront greater or lesser web lengths along the inner sides of said festoon as said festoon extends more or less forwardly along said given path.

5. Heat treating,apparatustcomprising agdancertrolltin supporting, relationship with a; webttorbefltreated at the apex of a festoon.ofsaidweb meanstto translatesaid dancer roll laterally; with respect to itselfbacle andrforth along ,a given path to correspondingly; extendisaid-festoon less or. more forwardly. along ,said given path, first heat applying duct means located alongside said-path-to-operatively confront-lesser or; greater. web lengths along; the outersides-of said festoon assaidfestoonextends-lessor more forwardly along said given path, at least two second roll means, defininggthe' .endz-ofr. saidv festoon opposite said apex and guiding said web to and away said festoon in paths divergent to the direction" of said given path, second inner heat applying duct means extending between saidat least two second roll means and within said festoon and being in entrained relationship with said dancer roll to be translated therewith along said path and between said at least two second roll means to operatively confront greater or lesser web lengths along the inner sides of said festoon as the degree of confrontation between the outer sides of said festoon and said first heat applying duct means increases or diminishes.

6. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself back and forth along a given path toward and away from one end thereof to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first heat applying duct means located alongside said path to operatively confront lesser or greater web lengths along the outer sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, second inner heat applying duct means extending within said festoon and being in entrained relationship with said dancer roll to be translated therewith along said path, relatively fixed closure wall means extending transversely across the interior of said inner heat applying duct means in the vicinity of said one end of said given path and a heat input port communicating with said inner heat applying duct means at a location between said closure wall means and the end of said given path opposite to said one end for causing said inner heat applying duct means to operatively confront greater or lesser Web lengths along the inner sides of said festoon as said festoon extends more or less forwardly along said given path.

7. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself back and forth along a given path toward and away from one end thereof to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first heat applying duct means located alongside said path to operatively confront lesser or greater web lengths along the outer sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, second inner heat applying duct means extending within said festoon and being in entrained relationship with said dancer roll to be translated therewith along said path, relatively fixed closure wall means extending transversely across the interior of said inner heat applying duct means in the vicinity of said one end of said given path and a heat input port communicating with said inner heat applying duct means at a location between said closure wall means and the end of said given path opposite to said one end for causing said inner heat applying duct means to operatively confront greater or lesser web lengths along the inner sides of said festoon as the degree of confrontation between the outer sides of said festoon and said first heat applying duct means increases or diminishes.

8. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supporting relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself back and forth along p ath'toward andaway from oneendtthereof; to correspondingly-extend said festoon; less or. more; forwardly; alongsaidgiven path, ,first heat: applying; duct means, located: alongside said path to operatively-com front lesser or greater web lengths-along thetouter, sides of saidfestoon assaid festoon extends lessor morefor wardly,- along'said giventpath, at least two. second roll means defining the endof said-.festoonoppositejto said apex and guiding: said web to a-ndtaway from-saidfestoon inpaths divergent to the direction of said given path, second inner; heat applying-ductmeansextending betweensaid at=leasttwo:second roll means and within said'festoon andbeing-in-entrainedrelationshi with said dancer roll to betranslated' therewith: along :said'path and between saidyatr least twosecond: roll means to-opjera lively; confront lesser: or; greater: webs lengths; along; the inner sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, said inner heat applying duct means comprising opposed flexible walls, guide means adjacent said one end of said path to guide trailing portions of said flexible walls in paths divergent to the direction of said given path.

9. Heat treating apparatus comprising a dancer roll in supportin relationship with a web to be treated at the apex of a festoon of said web, means to translate said dancer roll laterally with respect to itself back and forth along a given path toward and away from one end thereof to correspondingly extend said festoon less or more forwardly along said given path, first heat applying duct means located alongside said path to operatively confront lesser or greater web lengths along the outer sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path second inner heat applying duct means extending within said festoon and being in entrained relationship with said dancer roll to be translated therewith along said path, relatively fixed closure wall means extending transversely across the interior of said inner heat applying duct means in the vicinity of said one end of said given path and a heat input port communicating with said inner heat applying duct means at a location between said closure wall means and the end of said given path opposite to said one end whereby said inner heat applying duct means operatively confronts lesser or greater web lengths along the inner sides of said festoon as said festoon extends less or more forwardly along said given path, said inner heat applying duct means comprising opposed flexible walls, guide means adjacent said one end of said path to guide trailing portions of said flexible walls in paths divergent to the direction of said given path.

10. In continuous and semi-continuous web treating apparatus, a heat treating station comprising a heating chamber having port means to receive and discharge web material to be treated first roll means including at least one roll mounted for translation with respect to itself within the chamber, roll means outside the chamber to guide web material into an incoming reach leading to said first roll means and away from an outgoing reach leading away from said first roll means, said at least one roll being translatable in a path to vary the length of web material within the heating chamber, and inner heating means entrained with said at least one roll for translation therewith, said inner heating means extending between said incoming and outgoing reaches and to and through said port means.

11. In continuous and semi-continuous web treating apparatus, a heat treating station comprising a heating chamber having port means to receive and discharge Web material to be treated, first roll means including at least one roll mounted for translation with respect to itself within the chamber, roll means outside the chamber to guide web material into an incoming reach leading to said first roll means and away from an outgoing reach leading away from said first roll means, said at least one roll being translatable in a path to vary the length of web material within the heating chamber, andinner heating means entrained with said at least one roll for translation therewith, 'said inner heating means extending between said incoming and outgoing reaches and to and through said port means and comprising a pair of opposed flexible walls mounted to be extendable at their trailing ends in directions other than the direction of translation of said at least one roll.

12. Web heat treating apparatus comprising a heating chamber having port means to receive and discharge web material to be treated first roll means including at least one roll mounted for translation with respect to itself within the chamber to vary the length of web material within the heating chamber, second roll means including at least one roll translatable with respect to itself without the heating chamber, means guiding said web material into said port means, over said first r011 means, out of said port means and thence over said second roll means, control means to simultaneously translate said first andsecond roll means in opposite senses with respect to web accumulation, and inner heating means comprising flexible duct walls entrained with each of said first and second roll means and extending between the pairs of incoming and outgoing reaches of web material associated with each of said first and second roll means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gautreau Feb. 22, 1949, Parkes Mar. 21, 1950 Gschwing Aug. 15, 1950 

